Once in a while you get a random email which doesn’t go into the spam folder, as it’s supposed to. Anyway, in this world of cut-throat marketing and online presence of universities, attracting students with ads is gaining momentum.
Recently, I have seen an increased number of University ads on my facebook timeline. Along with other websites and radio channels outside of the UK. Yes, I listen to radio channels broadcasting from France and even Dubai!
But it was shocking to see a University of Liverpool advertisement
on a porn site on the prime spot (pardon the pun). What I tried after that was to see the code behind the element, just to be sure that the advertisement wasn’t purposely put up there and is used from one of these million ad services.
You can find the image proof by clicking on the link below. The reason I have not attached it to the post is to avoid showing adult images if you are at work or university.
Image 1 of University of Liverpool ad on a porn site
Image 2 of University of Liverpool ad on a porn site
The actual ad is decent and advertises some good courses from the University of Liverpool. But the University has to get stricter control over its marketing policy. As an educational institution, it is quite frankly shocking to see its name on a porn site.
I hope this post raises awareness of the pitfalls of online marketing. I believe the University of Liverpool is a decent university with good reputation. It could save some marketing budget and increase the budget of their Careers service maybe, instead of losing face by placing ads on porn sites.
Innocent mistake, but reputational damage could hurt.
Image Credit: writingbold
UPDATE 1: 17.30 hours THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY NOTICE AS A FUNNY EMAIL MESSAGE WITH PICTURE. I WAS NOT IN THE ACTIVITY TO FIND IT MYSELF. PLEASE MIND YOUR LANGUAGE WHEN SENDING ME MESSAGES.
UPDATE 2: Editor – 22.00 hours I have sent an email to University of Liverpool Marketing Officer notifying about this blogpost and the advert. Awaiting reply.
UPDATE 3: Editor – 9 August 2012 Email from Head of PR, University of Liverpool,
“Thank you for your email and for drawing our attention to this.
An advertisement for our online programmes was placed on this website in error by an agency responsible for marketing our online provision. We have a strict policy with regard to advertising and take every possible measure to ensure these kinds of mistakes do not occur. The advertisement has now been removed and we are very sorry for any offence it has caused”
